Prosecutor: Sheriff not using task force

September 29, 2013

LISBON — Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron has accused the sheriff of being reluctant to use the new Homicide Task Force, which he said could possibly hamper homicide investigations while......

mom2zack

I believe I said that. Patti, Detective Dave Talbert didn't call the Sheriff and have him call Lisbon, etc.. The way the task force is set up, if there is a homicide, they call in to the call center, which right now is the Sheriff's dept. The call center then is suppose to notify everyone on the task force where and details. It is voluntary so there is NO cost to the taxpayers or anyone else. There are always going to be instances when someone can't go. But, the whole idea is that they show up and do what they can. I know this is the way it works because I wrote the bi-laws and contract. The Sheriff doesn't have the authority to decide NOT to call in the HTF. He isn't in charge, he is simply another player.

concerned

Patti, I agree the HTF should be dispatched to every homicide in the county. I am not an expert on this but I believe when it was set up the police authority that the homicide occurred in was responsible for letting the HTF know. Why it is important to call the HTF in is because those people are trained in what to look for. Barney Fifes are not usually real good at murder investigations. In fact they may even destroy evidence that they don't even know is evidence. The HTF is a good thing and should be utilized fully on every homicide.

PattiHannah

As shocked as I am over the fact they had to have a mutual agreement to begin with is disturbing enough in itself, but, why would they agree to something like that? That would be irresponsible to roll out that type of manpower at the expense of the tax payers. Surely that can't be correct?

I know that everybody believes that more the merrier can lead to solving a homicide but sometimes it can be detrimental to a homicide investigation. Defense attorneys, no disrespect intended here, but they can benefit from an overkill.

Maybe I am confused on this but why would for example...Detective Talbert have to call the Sheriff's Department to have the Sheriff's department call Lisbon to send the HTF member to come into Salem even with a mutual aide agreement?

concerned

The job of the prosecutor is to prosecute based on the evidence that is presented to him by law enforcement. He decides if there is sufficient evidence to bring charges. Without sufficient evidence he can not bring charges. So investigation of crimes by law enforcement is very important to getting convictions. Unless crimes can be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt the person arrested is probably going to get off. Anyone ever heard of the law that you can not be tried twice for the same crime? So to bring charges and then not have sufficient evidence to make it stick, that person gets off and you can't keep hauling them into court on the same charge. They have to get it right the first time. That is why getting sufficient evidence is vital.

mom2zack

Last comment meaning that I am SURE there are politics involved by both but it has no place using the HTF as an outlet for it. There are victims here and families that deserve justice not babble between the powers that be...a contract has been signed and they should all honor it!

mom2zack

The HTF should be dispatched on EVERY scene. That is what they agreed to when they signed their agreement to join. The entire team is contacted and the Chief who has the jurisdiction then decides who he needs to stay. No police department should have to ask and be turned down. The Sheriff is not in charge of this. He volunteered to have the dispatching done from his office. If any of this is politically motivated, it has no business here.

WatchDog

Looks like Mr. Wheel and deal, notch in my belt, YOU need to shut up and BACK OFF. The public has had enough of this rhetoric. YOU need to stop interfering in law enforcement. The only person that is overstepping their authority...IS YOU HERRON. It is so obvious it stinks. Haven't you created enough divide? This is not your one man show to CONTROL!

You dragged Det. Talbert in to the middle of this? Publicly? You have got to be kidding me? That was nothing more than you acting like a two year old throwing a temper tantrum. If I was JT, I would be on the on the phone slapping you up side your head for dragging one of his detectives into your political game. That is so uncalled for.

You kicked that letter out to all the agency heads? I'm surprised not everyone of the agency heads didn't kick that letter back to you in big bold red letters tell you to BUTT OUT.